Golisopod is a large, arthropod Pokémon with a hunched, humanoid posture. It has a pale purple body covered with silver armor plating. It has a relatively small head with bright purple antennae that converge with its mandibles to form a mask around its eyes. The eyes themselves are black and angular with light gray pupils. Behind its head and curving down its back are several armor plates, each with a long protrusion curving up from each side. There is a small, greenish triangle marking on the center of each plate. Most of its lower body is exposed, but there is additional armor resembling a kusazuri around its waist and smooth pieces encasing its thighs and feet. Its feet each have a single black claw. Golisopod has three pairs of arms. The two foremost pairs are thinner, encased in a silver exoskeleton, and each is tipped with a single, black claw. The hindmost pair of arms is longer and has much larger forearms. These large forearms both have three overlapping, armored plates on the back and two black claws. The plate closest to its claws is plain, while the last two each have two greenish, triangular markings.
Golisopod has a shell as hard as diamond, and its retractable claws can cleave seawater in two. While it is skillful in battle, it often meditates peacefully deep in seaside caves. It is sometimes accompanied by Wimpod. Golisopod will do anything to win a fight. When it sees an opening to take advantage of, Golisopod will use the small claws on its front legs to finish off its opponent. Grapploct is the natural predator or prey of Golisopod, depending on who wins the fight.
In Generation VII, First Impression was its signature move, but Farfetch'd could still inherit it via breeding. Golisopod is the only known Pokémon that can have Emergency Exit as an Ability.
Forms
Golisopod can Mega Evolve into Mega Golisopod.
As a result of Mega Evolution, Mega Golisopod's body and armor plating have turned a dark purple and dark silver, respectively. Two of the four curved-up protrusions on its back plates have transformed into an additional pair or arms, each adorned with simpler armor plating and ending in two black claws that can be shot off as projectiles. Its thin arms have seemingly retracted underneath the plates, leaving only the black claws exposed, and a new pair of thin arms are kept hidden behind its kusazuri. Mega Golisopod has four legs, with the front ones having a detailed knee joint. Its pupils turned cross-shaped and yellow, its antennae have grown and acquired a "Z" shape, and its mandibles are connected to a beard-like structure. There is a rigid, prickly, purple tuft, similar in appearance to a Wimpod's tail, coming out from behind each of its large arms, and a more flowing one comes out from the back of its waist armor.
Mega Golisopod's fighting style involves using four of its main arms to fiercely assault its foes. Once the enemy has been pushed to the brink of defeat, it finishes them off with the additional arms it kept hidden to catch them off guard.
Evolution
Golisopod evolves from Wimpod.
(For specifics on this Pokémon's Evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)
- Golisopod was designed by Kensaku Nabana. According to Nabana, it took him over six months to fully design and create Golisopod; this is an average amount of time for a Pokémon to be fully created, which includes determining its habitat, behavior, moveset, and Abilities.[1]
- Mega Golisopod has the highest base stat total of all Bug-type Pokémon.
Origin
Golisopod may be based on the giant isopod and the armor of a samurai.
Mega Golisopod might be based on cyborgs, since it gains the Steel type and obtains additional limbs, an enhancement that isn't uncommon in the trope. The extra arms are positioned in a way reminiscent of shoulder cannons.
Name origin
Golisopod may be a combination of Goliath and isopod.
Gusokumusha may be a combination of 大王具足虫 daiō-gusokumushi (giant isopod), 具足 gusoku (fully equipped), and 武者 musha (warrior).
Mega Golisopod's hidden arms behind the kusazuri
Mega Golisopod after launching its black claws
For other sprites and images, please see Golisopod images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
